Chapter 20: The Pack That Came to Take Me Home

By the time the sun rose over Grayhaven, the snow outside had turned the streets white.

I stood by the window of the small guest room at the Red Mesa embassy, watching the city wake up.

For the first time in five years, I wasn't waiting for Julian.

I wasn't wondering whether he would finally choose me.

I wasn't preparing myself for another humiliation.

I was waiting for my family.

A knock sounded at the door.

Wyatt stepped inside.

He was wearing the black-and-red coat of the Calloway family, the silver insignia of Red Mesa pinned over his heart.

Behind him stood three members of our pack council.

I straightened immediately.

Wyatt looked at me for a long moment before his expression softened.

"Clara, are you ready to go home?"

My throat tightened.

"Yes."

It was the easiest answer I'd ever given.

Then one of the council members placed a sealed document on the table.

"There is one problem," he said.

I looked at him.

"What problem?"

"Stonebridge has officially requested an emergency council hearing."

My stomach sank.

"Because I left?"

"Because Julian claims you abandoned your marriage without permission."

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then I laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because after everything that had happened, Julian still believed I was something he could control.

"He really thinks I belong to him."

Wyatt's jaw tightened.

"He thinks you're still his Luna candidate."

I looked down at the Hawthorne signet ring sitting on the table.

I had surrendered it days ago.

Yet somehow, Julian was still trying to claim me.

"Then let's go to the hearing," I said.

"I'll tell them exactly what happened."

Wyatt's expression changed.

"Clara, once you speak before the council, there is no taking it back."

"I know."

I lifted my chin.

"That's why I'm ready."

We arrived at Stonebridge Hall just before noon.

The building was packed.

Every important bloodline in Grayhaven seemed to have sent a representative.

At the center of the chamber stood Julian.

Felicity was beside him.

She was wearing the antique lunar watch I had once been promised.

When her eyes met mine, she smiled.

But the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Julian looked different too.

He was no longer the confident Alpha heir who had thrown me out into the snow.

There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and his usual composure was gone.

Still, when he saw me enter with Wyatt, his face hardened.

"Clara," he said.

"Come back with me."

I stopped several feet away.

"No."

The single word echoed through the chamber.

A murmur spread among the elders.

Julian's eyes flashed gold.

"You're making this more difficult than it needs to be."

"No, Julian."

I looked directly at him.

"You made it difficult five years ago."

His expression tightened.

"You are my wife."

"And you spent five years making sure I knew I wasn't your Luna."

Silence fell.

I could hear every breath around me.

"You replaced me every Thanksgiving."

"You humiliated me in front of your pack."

"You gave my position to other women."

"And when I finally stopped fighting for your approval, you suddenly remembered that I was your wife."

Julian stepped toward me.

Wyatt immediately moved between us.

"Take one more step," Wyatt said quietly, "and you'll learn exactly how much patience Red Mesa has left."

The Alpha elders exchanged uneasy glances.

Then the oldest member of the council spoke.

"Clara Calloway, before this council makes a decision, there is one matter we need clarified."

He looked toward Julian.

"Did you or did you not intend to replace your contracted Luna candidate with Felicity this year?"

Julian went silent.

Felicity's face drained of color.

I watched them both.

For five years, I had wanted Julian to choose me.

Now, I didn't care what he chose.

I only wanted the truth recorded.

Julian finally spoke.

"Felicity was only a temporary representative."

I almost smiled.

"Then why did you give her the lunar watch?"

He had no answer.

"Why did you give her the seat reserved for the future Luna?"

Still nothing.

I took one step forward.

"And why did you tell everyone that I would never be good enough to stand beside you?"

The chamber erupted in whispers.

Julian's face turned pale.

Then the council elder opened the sealed document on the table.

"There is another issue."

He looked at Julian.

"The original marriage contract between the Hawthorne and Calloway families contains a five-year performance clause."

Julian's eyes widened.

I felt Wyatt's hand settle briefly on my shoulder.

"At the completion of five years," the elder continued, "either party may terminate the alliance if the contracted Luna has not been formally presented and invested."

A cold silence filled the room.

Julian stared at me.

"You knew about this?"

I nodded.

"I always knew."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

I looked at him for the last time.

"Because I wanted to see whether you would choose me without being forced to."

His face crumpled for the briefest second.

But it was too late.

The elder lifted the contract.

"The five years are complete."

"The alliance can be dissolved."

Julian suddenly crossed the room.

"No."

His voice cracked through the hall.

"I won't let her leave."

I looked at him calmly.

"You don't get to decide that anymore."